Pressure control fitting



' Feb. 15,1938.

swam tom T. A. LARRY PRESSURE CONTROL FITTING Filed OCb. 15, 1934 w 4 &W f A 1/ W N. J

w w@ W w \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\I IIIIIIIIIIl/l Patented Feb. 15, 1938 UNiTEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 2,108,068 rnnsscnn CONTROL FITTING 'iimothy AllanLarry, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application October 15, 1934, Serial No. 748,357 i 11 Claims. (Cl.res-92) My invention relates to pressure control fittings, and hasparticular reference to .a fitting adapted to be used for controllingthe pressure within a pipe when it is desired to repair or extend saidpipe, or to make taps thereon.

In the distribution of fluids in pipe systems, it frequently occurs thatsome portion of the pipe requires extension, or repairing, orreplacement, or it is necessary to tap the pipe or main for the purposeof extending a distribution line therefrom in a new direction.Heretofore, it has been necessary to stop the flow of fluid through thepipe or main, or to cut off from the supply that section of the main towhich repair, or extension,

is to be made.

In ordinary distributing systems, the nearest shutofi valve which couldbe employed for shutting off a given section of the main, may be locatedsome considerable distance from the point from which the repair orextension is to be made, and, it is, therefore, inconvenient to shutdown a long section of the line, rendering the entire section of theline inoperative during the time it is necessary to make thereplacement, repair, or extension.

It is, therefore, an object of my invention to provide a device whichmay be attached to the main by which fluid in the main may be cut offat'the point at which the repair or extension is to be made.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fitting which may beattached to the main without interrupting the supply of fluid therein,and through such fitting tapping the main and shutting off the supply atthe point at which the fitting is attached.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a pressure control fittingadapted to be readily secured to a main at any point thereon, throughwhich the fluid supply in the main may be shut oif or controlled topermit a section of the main to be removed, replaced or extended.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fitting of the characterdescribed, in which the fitting may be attached to the main as anextension fitting, through which the pipe or main may be tapped and thefluid in the-extension coutrolled to permit the attachment of furtherextension to the attachment fitting.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from a study of thefollowing specifications, read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing,

wherein-- Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in see- I may beattached above and below the main i by tion, of a pressure controlfitting constructed in accordance with my invention; I

Figure 2 is a detail, sectional view of pipe attachm'ents which may beused in the practice of my invention; 5

Figure 3 is a detail, elevational view, partly in section, illustratingthe finished attachment of my fitting to a min, after the extension orrepair has been accomplished and the attachment closed off; and

Figure 4 is an elevational view of a modifled form of attachment whichmay be used for tapping a main to carry a new distribution pipe from themain without disturbing the flow of fluid in the main. I

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated in Figure 1 a pipe iwhichmay constitute a main such as is used for the distribution oi water,gas, oil, steam, or the like, such main being formed of a section ofpipe of the desired diameter. As is 20 illustrated in Figure 1, the maini terminates in a cap 2 representing the dead end of the main.

Assuming that it is desired to extend the main from the original deadend point to some further point, it would, under ordinary conditions, benecessary to shut oil the fluid in the maini at some distant point wherea shutofl valve had previously been interposed in the main. Then itwould be necessary to uncover the main i, take off, the cap 2 and thendrain such fluid as remained in the main ll, after which the extensionof the main may be accomplished by attaching a new length of pipe to theend of the main i.

in handling certain fluids, however, such as gas, gasoline, oil or othercombustible fluids, the removal of the cap 2 and the draining of suchgas or oil as remains therein is exceedingly dangerous to the workmenemployed for extending or repairing the main, as such fluid would haveto be drained off into the atmosphere or the surrounding ground withgrave danger of its igniting and burning the workmen or of the quantityof gas escaping and injuring the workmen by asphyxiation. This dangercan be obviated by the employment of a fitting which may be attached tothe main i without opening the main, and I have illustrated such fittingas including an upper member 3 and a lower member t which arepreferablyformed as short sections of pipe which any suitable means,such as welding 5. I prefer that the internal diameter of the members 3and 4' should be in excess of the internal diameter of the main] towhichattachment isto be made, so that when, the members 3 and 4 are attachedto the main the entire cross section of the main may be drilled out bydrilling down through the interior of the members 3 and 4.

It will be observed that the lower member 4 is provided with a closedend 6, while the upper member 3 is provided upon its exterior withthreads 1 and it also has threads extending interiorly, as indicated at8.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the threads I may beemployed for the attachment of a temporary gate valve 9, such attachmentbeing made prior to the drilling of any opening into the main I. To theupper side of the valve 9 may be attached a working chamber Ill,preferably formed of an elongated tube having an internal bore IIterminating near the upper end I2 thereof, which is in turn providedwith a smaller bore I3 through which the shafts for drills, taps, orother devices may extend. The upper end I2 of the chamber fitting it ispreferably provided with a stufiing box I4, including packing I5 and apacking gland I6.

As will also be understood by those skilled in the art, drills and tapsmay be inserted in the chamber member I0 and the stufling box tightenedaround the shafts thereof, after which the chamber member Iii may bescrewed upon the gate valve 9 with the drills or taps therein.Thereafter the gate valve 9 may be opened and the drills may be moveddownwardly through the gate valve 9 and the upper member 3 of thefitting and the pipe or main I may be drilled without the loss of fluidand without interrupting the supply of fluid in the main I.

It will be observed that by reason of the larger diameter of the members3 and 4 and the employment of the lower fitting 4, the drill may cut Iout the metal both at the top and at the bottom of the main I to providea passageway through the main I, into which a suitable cutoff plug IImay be inserted.

The cutoff plug I1 preferably comprises a cylindrical block of rubber orother compressible material which has an external diameter slightly lessthan the internal diameter of the members 3 and 4, but which whencompressed will expand it along its diameter to completely fill thecross section of the main I.

It will be observed that the plug I1 is preferably longer than theinternal diameter of the main I so that when in place within thefittings 3 and 4 it will extend a considerable distance above and belowthe main I, thus insuring a positive filling of the entire cross sectionof the main and preventing the pressure of fluids in the main fromdistorting the plug I1 and opening small cracks or spaces through whichfluid can leak beyond the plug I]. The lower fitting 4 forms a chamberbelow the main of considerable length into which the end of the plug Ilmay project and 81.") provides a space below-the plug into which anybits of metal of the main, not completely removed during the drillingoperation, may fall out of the way of interference with the properseating of the plug in the main.

In order to insert and control the plug I1 I prefer to mount the blockupon a rod I8, the upper end of which is threaded as at II to a tubularcompressor 2|, the lower end of which rests upon the upper end of theplug II. The

p us I! may be placed on the rod II and the compressor II screwed ontothe rod I8 untilthe' lower end of the compressor rests lightly on theplug.

The assembled rod,--compressor,'and plug. may then be inserted-into thechamber II, he pp ends of the rod I8 and compressor 20 extending outthrough the stufling box I4. Then thechamber fitting III may be screwedupon the gatevalve 9, the gate valve opened and the entire assemblypressed down into place in the main I. Then the rod I8 may be rotatedrelative to the compressor 20 to pull the compressor and rod toward eachother, expanding the plug I'I into tight relation with the walls of themembers 3 and 4.

When the plug I! has been so placed, the cap 2 on the main I may beremoved, or that portion of the main I which lies beyond the plug I1 maybe cut out and replaced or extended or expansion fittings may be securedto that portion of the main as desired for the repair or extension ofthe distribution system; This may be done without loss of fluid in thepipe except such amount as lies between the relatively short-distancebetween the plug IT and the point at which the extension or repair is tobe made.

Since the fitting is attachable to any portion of the main, it will beunderstood by those skilled in the art that a single excavation toexpose the pipe at the point at which the extension or repair is to bemade will sufiice for the attachment of the fitting and the plugs whichare to be placed may be selected within a few inches from the point atwhich the main is to be opened or cut or extended.

When the extension or repair has been completed the, plug Il may beloosened and drawn up into the gate valve 9 and into the chamber fittingI0; then the gate valve may be closed and the chamber fitting I 0 withthe plug may be entirely removed. A wrench may be inserted in place ofthe compressor 20 to which may be secured a plug 2i, the chamber fittingII) again screwed onto the gate valve 9, the gate valve opened, and theplug 2I inserted through the gate valve into the internal threads 8 ofthe upper member-3, thus positively sealing oil! the member 3 from theescape of any fluid. Thereafter the gate valve 9 may be entirely removedand the repair or extension is complete. I prefer, however, to insurethe closure of the upper chamber 3 by placing a cap 22 thereon to engagethe external threads I, thus doubly sealing the member 3 against theescape of fluid, and, further to cover and protect the external threads1 against corrosion so that the fitting will be protected for future useat any time thereafter.

The plug, extending through both the upper and lower walls of the main,has a solid abutment at these two points and any pressure in the mainpresses the central part of the plug into the bore of the main, intighter sealing relation, rather than tending to swing the plug awayfrom the walls of the main as is the case when the plug extends throughone wall of the main and is merely pressed against the opposite wall.Also, since the internal diameter of the members 8 and 4 is larger thanthe internal diameter of the main, the side walls of the main are atleast partially cut away and when the plug is expanded to fill the cutout portion it is larger than the internal diameter of the main. Henceany pressure in the main is exerted tending to press a larger diameterplug into the smaller diameter of the fluid passage of the main, andsuch pressure therefore assists in the sealing of themain.

l'brthe NW of timing. or making side extensions from the main I, thedevice illustrated in Hg. 4 may be employed, in which the upper andlower members 3 and 4, similar to those illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3, maybe secured in advance to a short length of pipe 23, one end of which isthreaded as at 24, while the other end is adapted to be welded asindicated at 25 to the side wall of the main l. fitting the upper andlower members 3 and i may be formed integrally, that is, of a singleshort length of pipe or tubing, through which an opening is bored justsumcient to permit the insertion of the pipe 23, which is welded inplace as indicated at it, and then the pipe 23 is drilled out by a drillequal to the internal diameter of the members ii and it.

The fitting assembly thus formed when attached to the main i may beprovided with a gate valve similar to gate valve d and a chamber membersimilar to that illustrated at iii. In this case, however, the drillingof the main 6 will take place through the pipe 23, the drilling devicesbeing attached to the threaded end fi l of the pipe When the drilling iscomplete, the drill may be withdrawn through the pipe 23 and a plug i'iinserted through the upper end of the upper fitting 3 in the same mannerasdescribed with reference to Figures 1 to 3. Thus the pipe 23 iseffectively cut ofi from the escape of fluid through the opening nowmade in'the main i,

and the extensions may be attached to the threaded end of the pipe it,as desired. Then, upon the completion of the extension, the plug ill maybe withdrawn and the fittings 3 aud t may be plugged and capped asdescribed with reference to Figures 1 and 3.

It will be observed that once a fitting is in place on the main itremains as a permanent fixture and may be employed at any timethereafter as a cutoff valve by the insertion of plug i'i therein.

in fact, it may be desirable in the ini ial constructicn of the line toplace a number of the fittings at strategic points along the line, itbeing understood by those skilled in the that such fittings arerelatively inexpensive, as compared with gate valves which are requiredto be placed along the mains at the present time. Thus, by the more useof short sections of pipe attached to the main at a number of pointstherealong, provision is readily made in the construction of new linesfor the extensions, repairs or replacements required by the maintenanceof the main without involving any considerable in vestment in valves orother cutoff devices which would otherwise be required to be buried withV iconstitutes a sump, permitting the insertion.

October 11, 1937.

I claim:

In this form of the 1. In a device as described, a hollow valve housinghaving a cylindrical. inside surface, one end being closed and the otherend open, the housing having lateral openings for pipes entering throughthe cylindrical surface, the said surface extending below and above thesaid openings, the opening opposite the closed end being adapted for theinsertion of an expansible cylindrical valve.

2. In a device of the class described, a fitting comprising a pair oftubular members, one end of each of the tubes being adapted to partiallyencircle opposed pipe ends, the remaining ends of one of said tubularmembers being open and the other closed, said tubular members beingadapted to be aligned transversely of the said pipes and secured to thelatter to form a housing, the opening opposite the closed end beingadapted for the insertion of an expansible cylindrical valve.

3. In a device as described. a pipe having a hollow intersectingstructure, the intersecting structure being closed at one end and havingan opening at the opposite end and being cylindrical substantially fromthe opening to the closed end, the said cylinder intersecting the pipe,and an expandible valve plug insertable in the opening and within acut-out portion provided in the pipe and adapted to be expanded intosealing engagement with the latter.

i. in a device forcontrolling flow in a pipe, a tubular fitting attachedto and extending upon opposite sides of said pipe, said pipe beingapertured within the fitting to provide a passageway between oppositeportions of the fitting, and a plug insertable in said passageway andextending into opposed portions of the fitting, said plug adapted to beexpanded into sealing engagement with said pipe ior closing on flow insaid pipe.

5. in a device for controlling flow in a pipe, a tubular fittingattached to and extending around. said pipe; said pipe being dividedwithin the litting to provide a passageway between opposed portions ofthe fitting, a plug insertahle in said passageway and extending intorecesses in the opposed portions of the fitting and adapted to beexpanded for closing off the pipe.

6. in a' device for controlling how in a pipe, a tubular fittingattached to and extending upon opposite sides oi said pipe, said pipebeing apertured within the fitting to provide a passageway betweenopposite portions or the fitting, ancla plug insertable in saidpassageway and adapted to entend into opposed portions of the fitting,said plug adapted to be expanded into sealing engagement with said pipeand fitting walls for closing oil flow in said pipe.

3'. A shut-oft device for a pipe comprising casing means attachable tothe pipe and sealing with the pipe at longitudinally spaced apart pointsthereon, whereby a section of the pipe within the casing maybe removedleaving juxtaposed pipe ends within the casing and at least in partsupported by the casing, said casing means comprising wall meansdefining a cylindrical bore of larger diametergthan the bore oi the pipeand intersecting the pipe and extending therebeyond on opposite sides,and a resilient expansible plug insertable into said casing, said plugcomprising a radially eitpansible cylindrical member of lengthsubstantially greater than the external diameter of the pipe and adaptedto be centered with respect to the pipe, whereby it projects beyond thepipe at both ends and may be expanded into sealing engagement therewith.I

8. A shut-off device for a pipe comprising oasing means attachable tothe pipe and sealing with the pipe at longitudinally spaced apart pointsthereon, whereby a section of the pipe within the casing may be removedleaving juxtaposed pipe ends within the casing and at least in partsupported by the casing, a resilient expansible plug insertable intosaid casing between the juxtaposed ends of said pipe, and means forexpanding said plug into sealing engagement with the juxtaposed ends ofsaid pipe and the walls of said casing.

9. A device as described in claim 8, in which said casing meanscomprises wall members defining a cylindrical bore of larger diameterthan the bore of the pipe and intersecting the pipe and extendingtherebeyond on opposite sides and in which said plug comprises aradially expansible cylindrical member of length substantially greaterthan the external diameter of the pipe and adapted to be centered withrespect to the pipe, whereby it projects beyond the pipe at both endsand may be expanded into sealing engagement therewith.

10. A device as described in claim 8, in which said plug comprises abody of resilient material and said means for expanding said plugcomprises apair of compressing members abutting against opposite ends ofsaid plug, a hollow sleeve attached to one oi said compressing members,the latter having an aperture'therein aligned with the sleeve, a rodextending through said sleeve and said one compressing member and saidbody and attached to the other compressing member, and cooperating screwthreads on said rod and sleeve for drawing said compressing memberstogether in response to relative rotation between said rod and sleeve.

11. In pressure control apparatus, fitting members attachable aboveandbelow a main, a chamber member for the receptiono'of tools attachable tosaid fitting members, expansible plug means insertable through saidchamber member and into said fitting members to engage said fittingmembers above and below said main and means for expanding said plugafter insertion into said fitting members to close off said main at saidfitting members. i

TIMOTHY ALLAN LARRY.

